By Jade Thornton OMAHA, Ne.- Skaters in South Omaha are getting more time on their boards this fall after Lynch Park Skatepark got a major upgrade.
Over the summer the city worked with local skaters and the Nebraska Public Skateparks Council to fix up the old park. With help from a grant by The Skatepark Project the group added new concrete ramps rails and ledges. The changes were based on feedback from skaters who have been using the park for years.
For many the park means more than just a place to skate.
“Right here where we’re standing there wasn’t even a pathway. It was just dirt” said local skater Jovani. “Now they’ve added new obstacles and stuff so yeah that is also good.”
The project was funded in part by ten thousand dollars from The Skatepark Project which supports parks all over the country. But a big part of the work came from the skaters themselves who shared ideas and stayed involved.
“It is fun” said Joe Hamilton who came from Fremont to check it out. “It is a nice fun neighborhood, nice perfect park. You can tell skaters really put a lot into it, a lot of love, lot of care and I know they have been working on it for years and years, so it’s fun to enjoy something that I know was such a big project for a group of dedicated guys.”
Even in October the park is still busy with skaters from all over the area. For many it is more than just a skate spot. It is a place where people come together and feel part of something.
The park brings in people from different neighborhoods and even different cities. Some come to skate while others just hang out and watch. A few bring their kids or friends who are just learning. Many of the regulars know each other by name and help each other out.
With new features and strong community support, Lynch Skatepark is a reminder that when a city listens to the people who use a space good things can happen.
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